Just four months after revealing its first all-electric model, Genesis has uncovered a second battery-electric vehicle, this time in crossover form.
And unlike the Electrified G80 sedan, the Genesis GV60 crossover will ride on an all-new, dedicated EV architecture. The skateboard-style platform will underpin BEVs the luxury brand plans to bring to market in the future – along with all-electric models coming from mainstream brands Hyundai and Kia.
What Genesis has dubbed the “Crystal Sphere” is one of the more distinctive features on the GV70. The sphere-shaped knob will not only operate the GV60’s shift-by-wire system but also provide ambient lighting for the electric crossover’s interior.
Gv60 will switch to the new E-GMP platform
When the electrified G80 sedan debuted at the Shanghai Motor Show in April, Jay Chang, the global head of the Genesis brand, said that electrification will be “one of the key strategies” going forward.
That model is almost a technical afterthought, with Genesis engineers taking the old approach of squeezing batteries into vehicles wherever possible. Nonetheless, it’s expected to deliver as much as 310 miles of range per charge using the European WLTP standard, and about 250 using the U.S. EPA driving cycle.
Genesis isn’t saying much about the technical details of the GV60, other than noting it will share the E-GMP, or Electric-Global Modular Platform, that underpins upcoming products like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. The key feature is the way batteries and motors are mounted below the load floor. That frees up space normally used for an engine compartment, allowing for more passenger and cargo space, despite a smaller vehicle footprint. It also lowers the center of gravity, helping improve handling.
The E-GMP was designed to permit multiple motor layouts and, in keeping with the brand’s general direction, it’s expected that the GV60 will offer all-wheel-drive using at least two motors, one on each axle.
Look for solid performance
In terms of performance, electric motors can deliver immediate, off-the-line torque, the electrified G80 rated at 4.9 seconds in the 0-60 sprint in Sport mode, Genesis previously said. Few would be surprised to see the GV60 hit 60 even more quickly.
The E-GMP architecture is also expected to be optimized for the sort of ride and handling Genesis buyers expect. By lowering the base of the grille, it will not only “emphasize the dynamic performance of the vehicle (but also) increase the cooling efficiency of the high-voltage batteries in the underbody,” Genesis said.
The crossover will pick up on key styling cues seen on current Genesis products, such as the signature “Crest Grille,” though it will be “wider and more athletic,” the company said in a statement released early Thursday from Seoul.
The GV60 also will pick up on the two-line quad headlamps used on current Genesis crosovers. But, viewed from the side, the new BEV will offer a more coupe-like profile. It also will adopt a clamshell-style hood that combines the fenders to reduce the number of body panel cut lines.
Aerodynamics critical
Like many new BEVs, aerodynamics are key to the design, lowering wind resistance critical to maximizing range, as well as performance. That includes such details as the hideaway door handles that pop out as the driver approaches the GV60, as well as the fixed rear spoiler.
The interior is designed to take advantage of the freedom offered by the E-GMP platform. There will be no driveshaft hump, for one thing. Though specs have not yet been released, it’s quite likely the new battery-electric crossover will have class-above interior space.
The cabin features various elements that appear to float freely, including the center console upon which the Crystal Sphere is mounted. Describing it as “one of the most compelling design elements of the GV60,” Genesis noted, “When the vehicle is turned off, the Crystal Sphere provides ambient lighting, adding to the aesthetic of the driving experience. When you’re ready to drive, the sphere rotates and the SBW (the shift-by-wire system) appears, creating an indoor atmosphere of futuristic mobility.”
There will be widescreen displays replacing conventional analog gauges, as well as to operate the GV60’s infotainment system and vehicle controls.
2022 launch planned
Among the questions left for later, Genesis didn’t disclose the size of the GV60’s battery pack, its projected range or its charging time. But when the electrified G80 was launched, company officials indicated that future models would use a drive system that can flip from 400 to 800 volts, allowing the use of the latest public quick chargers. Using the newest 350 kilowatt systems the electric sedan can go from a 10% to 80% state-of-charge in just 22 minutes.
More details “will be announced in the coming months,” the Genesis statement said, with deliveries of the GV60 set to begin sometime next year.
